Public schools are notorious for letting kids do just that using their disability as an excuse. It seems the only reason this kid is being held accountable is because it's a charter school that's exempt from a lot of the nonsense that public schools have to put up with.

Yes and no. In all states that I know of, public charter schools have to follow the same rules regarding disabilities and punishments that traditional public schools do.

I think the biggest difference is that many public school districts give up--they figure it's not worth fighting these cases, cause the kids are just going to come back year after year. So you just pass them, graduate them, and they're no longer a problem.

I know plenty of public school (and charter school) teachers and administrators who would love to be able to do more, but the legal system has completely fucked them over. Just about any punishment can and will be challenged on the basis of "disability" and--often at the same time--racism.

It's a nightmare, and the root of the cause is the legal system.